What is the best way you have found to study for the CAX and the FOI/CFI exams?
I start ATP (credit for private) on 4/20 and just completed my written for both IRA and FII today. ATP gives you access to the King Schools course for the IRA as well as Sheppard Air. These two programs were fantastic and allowed me a great understanding, as well as a great test score, but when I called training support to get access for the CAX, I was told that only Sheppard Air was available. This is the same thing they said is availble for the CFI and FOI study prep (Sheppard Air only).
I like the Sheppard Air program a lot, but I’m worried that I’m just attempting to memorize the test answers instead of learning the topic (like with a traditional ground school) and then studying the testing material.
Follow the tried and true Shep Air technique. It works. If you try to figure out the questions like I did, you will just waste more time studying. I promise you that. Some FAA questions are poorly written and studying the right answers is what gets you through. Same for FOI and CFI written. The point of Shep Air’s method is to help you pass the written. You will study for your Commercial oral through instructor grounds and on your own. For FOI/CFI stuff you will go through CFI ground school at ATP.
That’s exactly what you’re doing and it works well. As Sergey said, rest assured you’ll learn what you need to, this is simply checking boxes. Trust the system.
Would this memorization technique apply to the private written as well? There are a few things that I am having a hard time fully understanding from King Schools and I am debating on just memorizing the answers from the practice tests, rather than spending too much time trying to understand a specific topic.
Memorization works just fine for all the FAA Knowledge exams. You’ll get explanations and understanding from ground with your instructor (or at least should).